“I know a few women throughout London who would convince you otherwise.”

“Women like Lady Yolten?” she asked, her head turned at an angle. “I did hear rumors about the two of you.”

Lady Yolten. What a firebrand she was. “Yes, exactly like Lady Yolten.”

Diana walked around his desk until she was standing directly to his side. He rose, not comfortable sitting any longer in her presence. He may not be a gentleman, but his mother had raised him as one a lifetime ago.

“Lord and Lady Yolten came by my office today.” The corners of Diana’s lips lifted. “They had nothing but good things to say about you.”

The devil take Lord Yolten. The man was much too open and honest. How many times had he threatened the man against saying anything of Everton’s involvement in Lord Yolten’s marriage? His eyes narrowed. “I’m not surprised that Lady Yolten would say a few positive things about me. I did manage to give her a very exciting Season.” He could bluff his way out of this. “But Lord Yolten? Surely he doesn’t approve of me.”

It was a gamble. Lord Yolten should have known better than to say anything about his scandal with his wife. He prayed Diana was bluffing as well.

Instead of looking uncertain, her smile deepened, and one solitary eyebrow rose in a high arc.

“You would think that, wouldn’t you?” She stepped closer to him. The back of his legs pressed against his chair. “I definitely thought that before meeting with them. Why would a man speak kindly of a gentleman who had a scandal with his wife?”

“Perhaps he is a little daft. I never did understand what Lady Yolten saw in the man.”

Diana’s copper eyes were turning gold. He took half a step back and moved around his chair. She was like a cat about to pounce on a mouse, and feeling like a mouse was not comfortable.

“They are a positively delightful pair. And what’s more . . .” She pointed a finger at him. “You know it.”

His back bumped into the window behind him. The coldness of it grounded him. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“You helped all of those women. Every single scandal you have had in the last three years has led to a marriage. A happy marriage. Nate’s included.”

He placed a hand on the frigid window, letting the sharp chill seep into him. “What are you implying?”

She stepped so close to him he could feel her warmth as surely as he felt the cold behind him. The cold was familiar and comfortable. Her gaze was not. “You are a good man, Lord Bryant. No matter how hard you try to convince everyone otherwise.”

Everton closed both of his eyes and concentrated on the unforgiving glass behind him. Diana was all softness and heat. She was life, comfort, and good old-fashioned stubbornness. Diana thought him a good man. It was sweet of her. Really it was. But she was dead wrong. And she didn’t belong anywhere near him.